USA: Federal prosecutors look to crackdown an California's medical marijuana industry

Record ID: 644575

  • Title: USA: Federal prosecutors look to crackdown an California's medical marijuana industry
  • Date: 8th October 2011
  • Summary: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 07, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF METAL DOOR OF MARIJUANA DISPENSARY COUPLE SHOWING MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD AT DOOR AND GAINING ENTRANCE TO SHOP WIDE SHOT OF STREET MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER SMOKING POT CLOSE UP OF PIPE (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVE YOUNESIEN, MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER, SAYING: "I just don't understand, this whole business of controlling this stuff. This is the best pain killer I have ever used in my life. VARIOUS OF OF CAFE, WHERE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOP OPERATES FROM (SOUNDBITE) (English) JIMMY ORTIZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER SAYING: "Illegally, it would be illegally. Basically, I would not know where to go anymore because I have been getting it from them and I haven't had the old ties like I used to have when I was younger." SHOWING MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD PRESCRIPTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROSETTE LOZETBLANT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "I know a lot of people who have cards. They actually have something, chronic headaches and it helps them out a lot and helps them concentrate. So, I do not think they should shut them down. PAN TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA LOCATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX SORROS, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "I have a friend who has cancer and uses it. I also have people who are not really sick, which is kind of a shame , that is decriminalization through the back door, so. But, the people who are really sick need it. It helps them a lot."
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVADL1ZS2AX9P5L5OG3ZPSJBCM46
  • Story Text: Federal prosecutors announced a crackdown on Friday (October 07) on what they called California's massive commercial marijuana industry, including medical pot dispensaries they say act as fronts for illegal for-profit drug distribution.
    Measures will include civil forfeiture lawsuits against properties involved in drug trafficking, warning letters sent to landlords of storefronts illegally selling marijuana, and criminal cases targeting cannabis activities across the state.
    The move was announced by four U.S. attorneys and marks an escalation in the friction between the federal government and California, which in 1996 became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use.
    "We are not focused on backyard grows with small amounts of marijuana for use by seriously ill people. We are targeting commercial operations which profit from growing and distributing marijuana. And which often use the trappings of state law for cover but in fact are abusing state law," said Sacramento U.S. Attorney, Benjamin Wagner.
    Card-carrying medical marijuana users like Steve Younesien disagree and worry that the crackdown will result in the closing of many of the dispensaries that operate in San Francisco's mission district.
    "I just don't understand, this whole business of controlling this stuff. This is the best pain killer I have ever used in my life," said Younesien, who has a prescription to treat chronic pain, the result of a serious car accident.
    Others like Jimmy Ortiz, wonder what they'll have to do if federal prosecutors are successful.
    "Illegally, it would be illegally," said Ortiz, about how he would obtain his medical marijuana following federal shutdown of the facilities. "Basically, I would not know where to go anymore because I have been getting it from them and I haven't had the old ties like I used to have when I was younger."
    Supporters of medical marijuana said the federal enforcement actions were unfairly targeting patients and suppliers operating legally under state law.
    Federal prosecutors have already sent notices to several medical marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco's mission district of their intent to shut them down, with shops near local schools reportedly targeted.
    A worker at one of the dispensaries near the San Francisco Friends School in the city's mission district confirmed that they received the letter. The owner though declined a request to be interviewed.
    Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing for medical marijuana use.
    Still, cannabis is considered an illegal narcotic under U.S. law, and federal authorities have raided pot dispensaries and greenhouses in California, Montana and other states in a crackdown aimed at supposed medical marijuana suppliers engaged in large-scale drug trafficking.
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